OUR STORY

Hope is Building

Watch to learn about how we got started, our programs, and what God is doing in Zona Norte.

The vision of Hope Zone (formally Zone Kids) started as Amanda Nino (Founder) encountered a six-year-old girl in the red light district who was being prostituted by her parents. After spending months in training and deep contemplation, it became clear that prevention was the best way to help. In 2010, Hope Zone began meeting weekly in a park located between a main highway and the red light district (Zona Norte).

It was there that the Hope Zone staff began building relationships with the local children through playing sports and making crafts. Today, Hope Zone meets multiple times a week, offering programs in STEM, music, karate, creative arts, and providing personal tutoring for the kids. Hope Zone offers sewing class for the mothers and carpentry classes for fathers.

About the Area

The Hope Zone property and programs operate in an area of Tijuana called Zona Norte — North America’s largest red light district.

Zona Norte

Zona Norte is the largest red light district in all of North America, located only 15 minutes from the San Diego border. It is home to adult and child prostitution, drug violence, fear, abuse, and homelessness. The red light district is easily accessible for Americans and international tourists. There are 18,000 registered adult prostitutes and “child sex trafficking has long been known to be a problem in Tijuana, but there is no official data suggesting just how prolific it is” (Davis).

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Esperanza Property

Each week kids (4- 16 years old) meet in specialized teams (art, martial arts, photography, science, music, etc.), and learn new skills to help them grow and gain self-confidence. Every week the Hope Zone staff meet with the teenagers (13 and up) in order to engage with them on a deeper level as they navigate the volatile situations in their community.